Exercising machine

ABSTRACT

An exercising machine comprising two axially spaced reels, two cables respectively wound on the reels, an electric motor, and drive means including two axially spaced slip clutches respectively connecting the reels to the motor to apply constant tensions to the cables, the drive means including a common shaft interconnecting the clutches. The exercising machine also includes means for increasing, or decreasing, the resistances of both clutches to slippage, and further includes adjusting means for cyclically varying the resistances of the clutches to slippage by alternately increasing the resistance of one clutch and decreasing that of the other. The first adjusting means mentioned includes a sleeve encompassing a portion of the shaft between the clutches and having oppositely threaded portions, and nuts respectively threaded on such portions of the sleeve and respectively connected to the clutches, whereby resistances to slippage of both clutches can be increased or decreased by rotating the sleeve. The second adjusting means comprises a cam means on the shaft for reciprocating the sleeve axially of the shaft to alternately increase the resistance to slippage of one clutch and decrease that of the other.

United States Patent 191 Aharoni EXERCISING MACHINE [76] Benjamin M. Aharoni, 5326 Radford St., North Hollywood, Calif. 9l607 Filed: Apr. 30, 1973 Appl. No.: 355,584

lnventor:

US. Cl 272/79 R, 272/DIG. 3 Int. Cl A63b 21/00 Field of Search 272/79 R, 79 D, DIG. 3,

272/DIG. 4, DlG. 6

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner.loseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Harris, Kern, Wallen & Tinsley [57] ABSTRACT An exercising machine comprising two axially spaced reels, two cables respectively wound on the reels, an electric motor, and drive means including two axially spaced slip clutches respectively connecting the reels to the motor to apply constant tensions to the cables, the drive means including a common shaft interconmeeting the clutches. The exercising machine also includes means for increasing, or decreasing, the resistances of both clutches to slippage, and further includes adjusting means for cyclically varying the resistances of the clutches to slippage by alternately increasing the resistance of one clutch and decreasing that of the other. The first adjusting means mentioned includes a sleeve encompassing a portion of the shaft between the clutches and having oppositely threaded portions, and nuts respectively threaded on such portions of the sleeve and respectively connected to the clutches, whereby resistances to slippage of both clutches can be increased or decreased by rotating the sleeve. The second adjusting means comprises a cam means on the shaft for reciprocating the sleeve axially of the shaft to alternately increase the resistance to slippage of one clutch and decrease that of the other.

7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU APR 1 I975 JEN 2 /0 FIG. 3. 7 6

1 EXERCISING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates in general to an exercising machine and, more particularly, to a machine of PRIOR ART The prior art with which I am familiar includes the following US. Pat. Nos. NH ,940 Tatham; 2I4,l 32 Higginson; 755,953 Smith; 854,720 Dawson; 924,937 Richards; l,322,l l9 Kiwul; 1,868,262 Staley; 1,902,594 Thomas; 2,306,730 Holmes; 2,643,53l Haynes; 3,l()3,357 Berne'. 3,387,493 Strittmatter.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION With the foregoing background in mind, a primary object of the invention is to provide an exercising machine wherein the user tensions a cable or cables, preferably two cables, against a continuously operating motor, preferably an electric motor, through slip clutches which cause the motor to apply constant tensions to the cables, the latter being wound on reels connected to the motor by the clutches. A related object is to provide the cables'with devices such as handgrips, stirrups, belts, oars, bars. or the like, against which the user can pull or push, thereby exercising all body muscles. If desired, two persons can use the machine simultaneously, one tensioning each cable.

An important object is to provide an apparatus of the foregoing nature having means for adjusting the resistances of the clutches to slippage.

More particularly, one important object of the invention is to increase or decrease the resistance of the clutches to slippage in unison, and another important object is to cyclically vary the resistances of the clutches to slippage in such a way that the resistance of one clutch increases while the other decreases.

With respect to increasing or decreasing the resistances of the clutches to slippage in unison, the inven tion may be summarized as including a common shaft connecting the motor to the clutches, a sleeve encompassing a portion of the shaft between the clutches and having oppositely threaded portions, and nuts respectively threaded on such portions of the sleeve and respectively connected to the clutches, whereby the resistances to slippage of the clutches can be increased or decreased in unison by rotating the sleeve. In effect, this provides a turnbuckle means for increasing or decreasing the slippage resistances in unison.

With respect to cyclically varying the slippage resistances of the clutches, the invention may be summarized as including cam means for reciprocating the aforementioned sleeve axially of the shaft, the cam means including, for example, a cam on the shaft and a cam follower carried by the sleeve.

In general, the exercising machine of the invention produces involuntary contractions of muscles throughout the body when the machine is used to develop constant tensions in the cables. lf alternately increasing and decreasing tensions are induced in the cables in the manner hereinbefore set forth, the invention produces involuntary rhythmic contractions and relaxations of the muscles to achieve an entirely different effect, which is an important feature.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the exercising machine art in the light of this disclosure, may be achieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of an exercising machine which embodies the invention, being taken along the arrowed line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the arrowed line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I, but showing in operation cyclical adjusting means for alternately increasing the slippage resistance of one clutch and decreasing that of the other, such adjusting means being shown in its inoperative position in FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a cable guide means of the exercising machine in a different operating position.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF INVENTION The exercising machine ofthe invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 in the drawings and in cludes a housing 12 which includes a front 13 and which is surmounted by a bench-type seat 14 for the user or users under some conditions of operation, as will be explained.

The housing carries a meter 16, preferably an electric motor, which drives a shaft 18 through reduction gearing 20, the shaft being suitably supported for rotation.

Concentric with and carried by the shaft 18 are two axially spaced reels 22 and slip clutches 24. The latter include outer clutch plates 26 pinned, or otherwise secured, to the shaft 18. The reels 22 include inner clutch plates 28 respectively facing the outer clutch plates 26. One clutch plate of each clutch 24 carries a facing of friction material 30.

The reels 22 have pulley-like configurations and have cable 32 of any suitable types and materials wound therearound, the inner ends of the cables being suitably secured to the reels in a manner not shown. The outer ends of the cables 32 are equipped with devices 34 which may be handgrips, stirrups, belts, oars, bars, or the like.

The cables 32 pass outwardly through vertical slots, not shown in the front wall 13 of the housing 12, and then pass through guides 36 carried by supports 38 which can either be plugged into horizontal sockets 40, or vertical sockets 42, as respectively shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The guide supports 38 are secured in the desired sockets by pins 44, FIGS. 1 and 3. These pins are located at the junctions of the horizontal and vertical sockets 40 and 42 and each pin is insertable into any one ofa number of holes 46 spaced apart longitudinally of the supports 38. Thus, the guides 36 can be located horizontally or vertically different distances from the respective forward and upper ends of the horizontal and vertical sockets 40 and 42. The guides 36 are pivoted on the supports 38 so that they can assume various positions, depending on the angles of the cables 32 relative to the housing 12.

Pinned, or otherwise secured, to the shaft 18 between the reels 22 is a cam 48 having an annular cam groove 50. Encompassing the cam 48 and the shaft 18 between the slip clutches 24 is a sleeve 52 journalled on hubs 53 of the reels 22 and having thereon a radial tubular stem 54 opposite the cam groove 50. Reciprocable in this tubular stem is a guide 56 carrying a cam follower 58 which is insertable into a cam groove 50, as shown in H6. 3. The guide 56 is equipped with a handle 60 which projects through a generally vertically slot 61 in the front wall 13. and is also provided with two annular grooves 62 either of which receives a spring loaded ball detent 64. When the detent 64 is in the lower groove, as viewed in FIG. I, the cam follower 58 is retracted from the cam groove 50. Conversely, when the detent 64 is in the upper groove 62, as viewed in FIG. 3, the cam follower 58 is disposed in the cam groove 50.

The sleeve 52 is provided adjacent its ends with oppositely threaded portions 68 for nuts 70 secured to the housing 12 by clamps 72. The latter are provided with tabs 71 and 73 respectively disposed on opposite sides of a guide plate 75 so that the nuts cannot rotate, but can move in directions parallel to the shaft 18. Seated in cavities in the nuts 70 are circumferentially spaced, longitudinal compression springs 74 which bear against the reels 22 through thrust bearings 76 to engage the clutches 24 with predetermined slippage resistances. It will be understood, of course, that other springs, such as Bellville washers, can be used in place of the springs 74.

To increase or decrease the slippage resistances of the clutches 24, and thus the tensions in the cables 32, in unison. the user merely rotates the sleeve 52 in the proper direction. This is readily accomplished by grasping the handle 60 and turning the turnbuckle sleeve 52 in the desired direction, the slot 61 permitting roughly 90 pivoting of the handle 60. Thus, the structure just described acts as a turnbuckle means for simultaneously increasing or decreasing the slippage resistances of the two clutches 24 to simultaneously increase or decrease the tensions in the cables 32 when the grips or stirrups 34 are restrained by the user. Under such conditions, the tensions in the cables 32 are constant at the values determined by the setting of the turnbuckle sleeve 52, which is an important feature.

if it is desired to cyclically vary the slippage resistances of the clutches 24, and thus the tensions in the cables 32, it is merely necessary to push inwardly on the handle 60 to insert the cam follower 58 into the cam groove 50. Under such conditions, the axial pressures applied to the clutches 24, and thus their resistances to slippage, vary cyclically. with one increasing while the other decreases, the same being true of the tensions in the corresponding cables 32. With this mode of operation, involuntary rhythmic muscular contractions and relaxations are produced, the muscles on one side of the body contracting while the others are relaxing. This has various beneficial effects and represents an important feature of the invention.

It will be noted from FIGS. 2 and 4 that if the cables 32 are tensioned excessively, the stem 54 on the sleeve 52 engages a switch actuator 78 to shut off the motor 16 to prevent damage thereto.

As previously pointed out, the cable guides 36 can be located either in positions like that shown in FIG. 2, or positions like that shown in FIG. 4, depending upon the location of the user relative to the machine 10 and depending on whether the user is engaging the devices 34 with his or her hands or feet, and whether the user is pulling or pushing on such devices. The guides 36 pivot to accommodate any angles of the cables 32. It will be understood that the user can employ the exerciser machine 10 while lying, standing, sitting or kneeling on the bench 14, or while sitting, kneeling, standing, or lying on the floor in front ofor behind the machine. Further, two persons can use the machine at once, one tensioning each cable 32.

Thus, it will be apparent that the exercising machine 10 of the invention is quite diversified in the sense that it is capable of exercising all parts of the body, or two bodies, in various ways, which are important features of the invention.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it will be.

understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims hereinafter appearing.

I claim as my invention:

In an exercising machine, the combination of:

a reel;

a cable wound on said reel;

21 motor;

constant-cable-tension drive means, including a slip clutch connecting said reel to said motor, for causing said motor to apply a constant tension to said cable; and means for alternately increasing and decreasing the resistance of said slip clutch to slippage.

in an exercising machine, the combination of: two axially spaced reels;

two cables respectively wound on said reels;

a motor; and

constant-cable-tension drive means, including two axially spaced slip clutches respectively connecting said reels to said motor, for applying constant tensions to said cables;

e. cable tension varying means for adjusting the resistances of said clutches to slippage;

f. said drive means including a common shaft connecting said motor to said clutches;

g. said slippage adjusting means including a sleeve encompassing a portion of said shaft between said clutches and having oppositely threaded portions; and

h. said slippage adjusting means further including nuts respectively threaded on said portions of said sleeve and respectively connected to said clutches, whereby the resistances to slippage of said clutches can be adjusted by rotating said sleeve.

3. An exercising machine as set forth in claim 2 including:

a. a supporting structure;

b. two cable guides spaced from said reels and through which said cables extend, respectively; and

c. means for mounting said cable guides on said supporting structure in different positions to locate said cable guides in different positions relative to said reels.

In an exercising machine, the combination of: two axially spaced reels;

two cables respectively wound on said reels;

a motor;

constant-cable-tension drive means, including two axially spaced slip clutches respectively connecting said reels to said motor. for applying constant tensions to said cables;

e. cable tension varying means for adjusting the resistances of said clutches to slippage; and

. said slippage adjusting means including means for periodically increasing and decreasing the resistances of said clutches to slippage.

5. An exercising machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said slippage adjusting means includes means for alternately increasing the resistance to slippage of one of said clutches and decreasing that of the other.

6. An exercising machine according to claim 5 wherein:

a. said drive means includes a common shaft extending between said clutches and connecting said motor to said clutches;

b. said slippage adjusting means includes a sleeve encompassing the portion of said shaft between said clutches and connected to said clutches; and

c. said slippage adjusting means further including cam means for reciprocating said sleeve axially of said shaft.

7. An exercising machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cam means includes an annular cam on and encircling said shaft between said clutches and a cam follower on said sleeve and engaging said cam.

l l l 

1. In an exercising machine, the combination of: a. a reel; b. a cable wound on said reel; c. a motor; d. constant-cable-tension drive means, including a slip clutch connecting said reel to said motor, for causing said motor to apply a constant tension to said cable; and e. means for alternately increasing and decreasing the resistance of said slip clutch to slippage.
 2. In an exercising machine, the combination of: a. two axially spaced reels; b. two cables respectively wound on said reels; c. a motor; and d. constant-cable-tension drive means, including two axially spaced slip clutches respectively connecting said reels to said motor, for applying constant tensions to said cables; e. cable tension varying means for adjusting the resistances of said clutches to slippage; f. said drive means including a common shaft connecting said motor to said clutches; g. said slippage adjusting means including a sleeve encompassing a portion of said shaft between said clutches and having oppositely threaded portions; and h. said slippage adjusting means further including nuts respectively threaded on said portions of said sleeve and respectively connected to said clutches, whereby the resistances to slippage of said clutches can be adjusted by rotating said sleeve.
 3. An exercising machine as set forth in claim 2 including: a. a supporting structure; b. two cable guides spaced from said reels and through which said cables extend, respectively; and c. means for mounting said cable guides on said supporting structure in different positions to locate said cable guides in different positions relative to said reels.
 4. In an exercising machine, the combination of: a. two axially spaced reels; b. two cables respectively wound on said reels; c. a motor; d. constant-cable-tension drive means, including two axially spaced slip clutches respectively connecting said reels to said motor, for applying constant tensions to said cables; e. cable tension varying means for adjusting the resistances of said clutches to slippage; and f. said slippage adjusting means including means for periodically increasing and decreasing the resistances of said clutches to slippage.
 5. An exercising machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said slippage adjusting means includes means for alternately increasing the resistance to slippage of one of said clutches and decreasing that of the other.
 6. An exercising machine according to claim 5 wherein: a. said drive means includes a common shaft extending between said clutches and connecting said motor to said clutches; b. said slippage adjusting means includes a sleeve eNcompassing the portion of said shaft between said clutches and connected to said clutches; and c. said slippage adjusting means further including cam means for reciprocating said sleeve axially of said shaft.
 7. An exercising machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cam means includes an annular cam on and encircling said shaft between said clutches and a cam follower on said sleeve and engaging said cam. 